Dentist donates services to keep children smiling

For the past year, Girls and Boys Town children have gotten help with their smiles.

Dentist Mark Escoto donates his services to kids living in homes provided by the nonprofit organization that helps abused, abandoned and neglected children.

"We were looking for an organization to work with children and give back to the community," said Escoto, who founded his practice, A Beautiful Smile, in 1989.

As the father of six children, who range in age from 16 to 3-year-old twins, Escoto finds Girls and Boys Town a "good fit for us."

"It is a rewarding experience to give," said Escoto, who grew up in Las Vegas and has lived here for 39 years. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Escoto received his dental degree from the University of the Pacific in San Francisco.

Escoto chose to offer his dental services to Girls and Boys Town after speaking with Tom Waite, the Nevada executive director of the agency. He previously has provided help to Donated Dental Services, Wednesday's Child and the Huntridge Teen Clinic.

Escoto is seeing 27 kids from the organization's residential services program. The children include 16 boys and 11 girls. According to Escoto, each residence houses four to five kids. Girls and Boys Town has five residences and a shelter.

"I try to finish up all the ones at one house before moving on to the next," said Escoto, who added he sees "quite a few each month."

The kids are brought to the clinic two to three at a time with their guardians and receive complete dental exams including X-rays, cleanings, fillings and crowns. The children are sent to oral surgeon Patrick O'Connor for tooth extractions.

Escoto asked O'Connor if he would be interested in working with "kids in need."

"He was willing to help," Escoto said.

Some of the children Escoto sees are "comfortable" on their visit to the clinic, while those visiting a dentist for the first time usually are "a little apprehensive."

"But, they are happy when they leave. It is a positive experience for them," he said.

The children are, he added, "really good kids."

"The whole idea behind Girls and Boys Town is to get them back into a home atmosphere so they can give back to the community," said Escoto. He plans to continue the service to Girls and Boys Town "indefinitely."

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